Rep. Peter King of New York reportedly asked the FBI to investigate the accusations, while Sens. John Rockefeller and Barbara Boxer also asked the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate reports of police bribery, which could violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, they said.

"The reported allegations against News Corporation are very serious, indicate a pattern of illegal activity, and involve thousands of potential victims," Boxer wrote. "It is important to ensure that no United States laws were broken and no United States citizens were victimized."

"This raises serious questions about whether the company has broken U.S. law, and I encourage the appropriate agencies to investigate to ensure that Americans have not had their privacy violated," Rockefeller said.

If the hacks involved 9/11, "the consequences will be severe," Rockefeller warned.

The hacking controversy, meanwhile, prompted News Corp. parent company News International to shut down the News of the World; its last issue was on Sunday, after 168 years in circulation. News Corp. also abandoned plans to acquire BSkyB.

About the Author

Before joining PCMag.com, Chloe covered financial IT for Incisive Media in NYC and technology policy for The National Journal's Technology Daily in Washington, DC. She has held internships at NBC's Meet the Press, washingtonpost.com, the Tate Gallery press office in London, Roll Call, and Congressional Quarterly. She graduated with a bachelor's deg... See Full Bio

Get Our Best Stories!

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.